Chronic pain management is a holistic approach to maintaining your pet’s quality of life and managing chronically painful conditions, such as osteoarthritis and pain secondary to spinal disease. Other kinds of painful conditions, such as post-surgical conditions, digestive problems and behavioral issues, are also treated.
Therapy as part of chronic pain management is specifically tailored to your pet and could include optimising your pet’s medications, acupuncture, physiotherapy, laser therapy and dietary and lifestyle or behavioural advice. When your pet is referred for pain management, the initial consultation will include a comprehensive assessment. We will discuss your pet’s history and review your pet’s medication before performing a physical examination to confirm the source of pain and any clinical signs related to compensatory mechanisms. We will then outline the findings in a report to you and recommend a course of treatment that’s best for your pet.
Any dog, cat or small animal, such as rabbits or guinea pigs, with a pain management or a mobility problem would be a potential candidate for treatment.
The initial consultation typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. A weekly 45-minute course of four treatments and maintenance treatment every four to six weeks thereafter is recommended, depending on your pet’s response.
Could my pet be in pain?
It can be very difficult to tell whether your pet may be in pain as they often hide the signs. Even though your pet can’t speak up to tell you they’re hurting, here are some behaviour signs your pet may be in pain:
Aggressive or anti-social behaviour
If your pet suddenly begins showing signs of aggression, such as growling or nipping at you or other animals in your home, this may be a sign they’re hurting.
Being more or less vocal
If your usually quiet cat or dog seems to be crying or whimpering, they may be in pain. On the other hand, some pets are less vocal or are subdued if they’re in discomfort.
Changes in habits
What, how often, and how much your pet eats, drinks, or sleeps typically stays consistent. But if you notice a significant change – a decrease in eating, decrease or increase in drinking, and an increase in sleeping, for example – that could be a signal that something’s wrong.
Mobility problems
Limping, difficulty walking, or stumbling is not normal for pets. Sometimes, you’ll get an indication of what hurts based on how your pet is walking. No matter what, a sudden change in mobility is cause for concern.
Changes to posture
Look closely at your pet – do their legs look swollen or somehow different? Is your pet standing more hunched-over or holding their legs straighter than usual? This could be a sign that something’s hurting.
Shaking or trembling
The cold or fear is not the only reasons your pet may tremble. Pain, poisoning, or some illnesses can cause shaking in pets.
Excessive grooming
Having a pet that wants to keep clean is great! But if you notice that your pet is obsessively licking or chewing on the same spot, that could be a signal that something hurts. Frequent grooming can also be a sign that your pet is trying to soothe themselves.
Price list
Initial pain management consultation:
£125
Follow-up pain management consultation (with acupuncture):
£70
Follow-up pain management consultation (with acupuncture and laser therapy):
£84.70
Laser therapy consultation- up to 20 minutes:
£40